Eye protection

ABSTRACT

An eye protection apparatus is disclosed that includes detachable dome-shaped eye protection portions.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application is a continuation of prior U.S. application Ser.No. 10/101,546, filed Mar. 18, 2002, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to eye protection. In particular, itrelates to protective eye wear, for protecting eyes against radiation,that can be used in a variety of environments.

[0003] The use of sun lamps and ultraviolet lamps for tanning skin hasincreased greatly over recent years. In addition to the traditional‘sunbed’, where a user lies in a prone position on a platen beneath asun-canopy, there is also tanning equipment that requires a user to bein an upright position.

[0004] Conventionally, a user 20 (see FIG. 1) preparing for a tanningsession using the ‘prone’ method would lie down on the platen and placean individual eye protector 21 over each eye before activating thelamp(s). Advantageously, these types of eye protectors cover the minimumarea of facial skin during use.

[0005] When using the ‘upright’ method, a user cannot use theindividual-type eye protectors since they will not remain in place overa user's eyes due to the position of the body. In this instance the typeof protection goggles 22 as shown in FIG. 2 are required. Here, a userwears the goggles in much the same way as a swimmer wears swimminggoggles; the eyepieces are interconnected via a nose bridge 23 and arefastened to an elastic headband 25 at fastening portions 24. Thesegoggles do not slip from the wearer's face, even when the wearer is inan upright position.

[0006] Since users of tanning equipment often use both of the methodsdescribed above, many of them are required to obtain both types of eyeprotectors; both the individual and the headband fastening type ofgoggles.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved eyeprotector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention there is providedeye protection apparatus comprising eye protection goggles includingdetachable eye protection portions.

[0009] Preferably, the apparatus includes a means for securing thedetachable portions to a frame portion of the goggles. Preferably, thisprovides a substantially light-tight attachment.

[0010] According to the present invention in a further aspect there isprovided eye protection goggles including: a frame section comprisingorbit portions adapted to surround a user's eye orbit, the orbitportions interconnected via a nose bridge; detachable eye portionsadapted to filter ultraviolet radiation; and detachable attachmentportions adapted to surround and secure the eye portions to the framesection.

[0011] The eye portions may be generally dome-shaped or otherwise shapedto have a hollow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, inwhich:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a conventional individual eye protector;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows schematically a pair of conventional eye goggles;

[0015]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a pair of eye protection gogglesaccording to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 shows an unexploded view of the eye protection goggles ofFIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5 shows a front view of the eye protection goggles shown inFIG. 4;

[0018]FIG. 6 shows a nose-bridge portion of a pair of goggles;

[0019]FIG. 7 shows an alternate design of eye protectors; and

[0020]FIG. 8 shows a side view of a pair of goggles having theeye-protectors of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a pair of eye protection goggles 1includes a frame 2, eye protectors 6, and locking sleeves 8.

[0022] The frame 2 comprises two orbit portions 3 interconnected via anose bridge 5. The nose bridge 5 may be rigid, flexible or aconcertina-type linkage for example. The bridge preferably includes awidened central portion 5 a, for strength. The eye protectors 6, whichgenerally have an oval shaped base that abuts an orbit portion, arefabricated from a plastics material, preferably a rigid plasticsmaterial, for example ABS. The eye protector 6 includes a lens 7 oftypically circular aperture. The lens is adapted to block both UVA andUVB light from impinging on the eyes of the wearer but may allow adegree of vision through it.

[0023] In order that the eye protectors 6 can be secured to the frame,the eye protection goggles include detachable locking sleeves 8. Thesleeves 8 are adapted to enclose around the lower periphery of the eyeprotectors 6, and to releasably engage with respective orbit portions 3.Engagement is achieved via the mating of lugs 9 with reciprocal sockets4 disposed on the orbit portions 3. The locking sleeves are dimensionedsuch that they can pass unhindered over the lens portion of the eyeprotectors 6, but cannot pass over the lower periphery of the eyeprotectors due to the increased circumference of the eye protectors.Also, the sleeves are of an adequate thickness to hold the eyeprotectors in abutment with the orbit portions without exerting morethan necessary pressure, whilst also preventing the eye protectors frommovement in any direction within the frame 2.

[0024] Alternatively, the sleeves may have an adhesive connection withthe frame.

[0025] In alternative embodiments, the sleeves may be omitted entirely,and the eye protectors arranged to directly engage the frames, either bya mechanical fitting, or simply be adhesive fitting, for example.

[0026] Mating of the lugs 9 with the sockets 4 is achieved by a snapfit, force fit or any other such known method of releasably attachingthese components. In alternative embodiments the mating may be achievedvia a non-permanent adhesive layer disposed between the eye protectorsand the orbit portions; in another embodiment the eye protectors areclipped or adhered onto the frame directly in one of a variety of knownways. Other methods of attaching a protector to a frame may be usedwhatever way, whatever method is used it will usually be useful toensure that the attachment between the protectors and frames islight-tight.

[0027] Once the eye protectors 6 have been secured to the frame 2 viathe locking sleeves 8, the goggles 1, as shown in FIG. 4, can beattached to a user's head. This is normally achieved by attaching anelasticated headband to the attachment lugs 10 located to the left andright periphery of the left and right eye protector respectively. Oncein place, the headband can be passed over the user's head and worn inthe usual manner.

[0028]FIG. 5 shows a front view of the eye protection goggles 1 withprotectors secured in place.

[0029]FIG. 6 shows a nose bridge portion 20 according to a furtherembodiment, which is generally concertinaed, to provide flexibility andwearability.

[0030]FIG. 7 shows an alternative design of eye protector 76, having agenerally flattened front portion 77 in which the lens is mounted. FIG.8 shows a pair of goggles 81 incorporating such eye protectors. Thispair includes a concertina-type nose bridge 82 but may of course haveany other type of nose bridge.

1. Eye protection goggles comprising: a frame portion; and eyeprotection portions detachably connected to the frame portion andadapted to filter ultraviolet radiation, wherein each said eyeprotection portion covers the user's eye while fitting within the user'seye orbit.
 2. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, further comprisingmeans for securing said detachable eye portions to said frame portion.3. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said detachable eyeportions are connected to said frame portion with a light-tightattachment.
 4. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, comprising anadhesive to connect said eye protection portions to said frame portion.5. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said eye protectionportions are dome-shaped.
 6. The eye protection goggles of claim 1,wherein said eye protection portions include lenses.
 7. The eyeprotection goggles of claim 1, further comprising a concertina-type nosebridge portion.
 8. The eye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein saidframe portion includes openings and each eye protection portion includesan increased circumference portion, and wherein each said eye protectionportion protrudes through a corresponding one of said openings whilesaid increased circumference portion abuts against said opening.
 9. Theeye protection goggles of claim 1, wherein said eye protection portionsblock both UVA and UVB light from impinging on the eyes of the wearerwhile allowing visible light to impinge on the eyes of the wearer. 10.The eye protection goggles of claim 1, further comprising lockingsleeves that detachably connect said eye protection portions to saidframe portion, wherein each eye protection portion protrudes from anopening in a corresponding one of said locking sleeves.
 11. Eyeprotection goggles comprising: a frame section comprising orbit portionsadapted to surround a user's eye while fitting within the user's eyeorbits, the orbit portions being interconnected via a nose bridge; andeye portions detachably connected to the frame section and adapted tofilter ultraviolet radiation.
 12. The eye protection goggles of claim11, wherein said eye portions are dome shaped.
 13. The eye protectiongoggles of claim 11, wherein said eye portions include lenses.
 14. Theeye protection goggles of claim 11, wherein said nose bridge is aconcertina-type nose bridge.
 15. The eye protection goggles of claim 11,wherein said eye portions block both UVA and UVB light from impinging onthe eyes of the wearer while allowing visible light to impinge on theeyes of the wearer.
 16. The eye protection goggles of claim 11, whereinsaid frame section includes openings and each eye portion includes anincreased circumference portion, and wherein each said eye portionprotrudes through a corresponding one of said openings while saidincreased circumference portion abuts against said opening.
 17. The eyeprotection goggles of claim 16, wherein said increased circumferenceportion forms a lug and said frame section includes a socket, whereinsaid lug detachably mounts within said socket.
 18. Eye protectiongoggles, comprising: at least two eye protection portions adapted tofilter ultraviolet radiation, wherein each said eye protection portionfits within one of the user's eye orbits; and a connecting frame whereinsaid eye protection portions demountably engage said connecting frame.19. The eye protection goggles of claim 17, wherein said connectingframe includes at least two openings and each said eye protectionportion includes an increased circumference portion, and wherein eachsaid eye protection portion protrudes through a corresponding one ofsaid openings while said increased circumference portion abuts againstsaid opening.
 20. The eye protection goggles of claim 19, wherein saidincreased circumference portion forms a lug and said frame includes asocket, wherein said lug detachably mounts within said socket.